Dave's IT CV

PHP Development, Auckland, Northland, New Zealand

After starting in an engineering background, I have moved on to developing websites, working with PHP, MySQL databases, CSS, HTML, Linux and all the trappings which follow on from that. I have worked with the Silverstripe, Drupal and Joomla CMSes, and Zend Framework. My other projects over the last few years have included my preferred tools of Microsoft Access and Delphi. In the last few years I have freelanced for several companies in Auckland; and previously I worked for Incentive Solutions in Auckland, on some heavy-duty PHP and PostgreSQL, with graphs, GoogleMaps, SEO, Excel integration and so on.

I used to put my hand to FORTRAN, VMS, Pascal, VB, VBA, C, Postscript, though now I have to think a tad harder for that old stuff, so only ask me if you are desperate (really desperate)!

Currently (2017) I work for QVisual on PHP software to help elderly people live comfortably at home: there are two PHP web applications, one for monitoring and another for family communication and entertainment; and also for with a PHP framework and e-commerce. Also, I have made e-commerce modules for a gym, allowing customers to select their courses and pay by credit-card. And a JQuery Calendar for a similar gym, letting people book sessions on courts.

I dovetail the above with my work for ISpyHorses, who had developed an excellent trading platform for people interested in horses, ponies and all matters equestrian. Again this required the addition of credit-card payment modules plus handfuls of other new features and amendments.

If that wasn't enough inter-weaving, I also dovetail both of those with work for UrbanBlinds. Some very smart people in Auckland (hi, Little Giant), developed a site based on Silverstripe 3, highly customised and heavy use of JQuery. I took over for maintenance and enhancements, such as the addition of new blind types and extra pages to explain the services offered to customers.

In 2011, I was getting to know the excellent Silverstripe PHP CMS while working with the smart branding team at Brian R Richards. I have been very impressed by the ease of templating in Silverstripe, combined with bespoke database development, without being forbiddingly complicated. Earlier, I was using PHP Zend Framework (ZF) for Colenso and Westpac. A few years ago I installed OpenCart ecommerce projects and implementing Paypal to manage online purchases for an educational software company.

Prior to that, I was involved in two dollops of Paypal integration: for PharmaHealth I have created a Shopping Cart for online sales; and for Kenpo Karate I prepared the entry form for their 2010 Tournament at Eden Park Auckland, including Paypal payments for fees and extras. I find that Paypal is a bit of a challenge as there are huge numbers of options, and a deluge of documentation. However, it's the standard and familiar to customers around the world, which makes it commendable.

I aim strenuously for W3C-compliant HTML using PHP and CSS, though not unfailingly. It can become an obsession, and you need to keep in mind the practical realities of time vs quality. Browsers are very good at coping with unruly HTML, but it's worth getting things nailed down where possible. Check any of my websites in a validator.

If you have a need for a website where you can update the content, and you don't like talking to the pin-stripe suits, please let me know.